Main Menu

Event Details

Consultation Session: Low Carbon Development Strategy

14 July 2017

Stakeholders present during a consultation session organised by MEUSAC on Friday, July 14, 2017 in conjunction with the Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change said that short-term incentives to reach the 2020 emission targets could be effective but more needed to be done in certain areas. However, long-term objectives as far as 2030 and 2050 were described as a shot in the dark and risk being shelved.

They also said that more enforcement was needed to control emissions, including heftier fines as it was not enough to put strategies together without enforcement structures in place to target those who breach emission rules.

Ms Josianne Muscat from the Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change explained that Malta is a member and developed party of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) while the EU is also a party on its own. This also makes Malta a member through the EU community.

This in itself ties Malta and other members to follow on obligations, including developing the Low-Carbon Development Strategy.

She added that the 2020 targets on low-carbon have been transposed into EU regulations, which binds Malta and other countries to lower emissions by a certain threshold. A 40% reduction target is being looked at for 2030.

Ms Muscat said that although Malta was doing well in terms of reaching the 2020 targets, there was more room for improvement in certain areas. Solar energy and energy efficiency were some of the areas mentioned.

She also explained that the low-carbon strategy is taking on board existing strategies such as the Transport Strategy, adding that the strategy is a holistic one. Ms Muscat also spoke about the water/agriculture sector. “The island’s water scarcity is making us dependent on Reverse Osmosis plants. The operation of such plants comes at a price, both financially and in terms of the GHG emissions being released.

“However, the fact that Malta has invested in a storm water management project will help reduce emissions as storm water run-off will be kept in store for future re-use,” she added.

Low Carbon GovernanceTo achieve the vision that Malta becomes a low carbon and climate-resilient country, there is a need to create the appropriate governance framework through which Malta is able to react to anticipated climate change scenarios that are likely to test its resilience up to 2050.

As part of the low-carbon strategy and the context of a governance framework, quantitative and, or, qualitative targets and objectives have been set.

Those who would like to have their say and participate in the low-carbon development strategy have the opportunity to do so by filling in a short online questionnaire by clicking here. The deadline for submissions is July 21, 2017.